MANILA, Philippines - Failing to make it to the Final Four for the first time in five years last season, sweet-shooting combo guard Terence Romeo of Far Eastern University promised to be different this UAAP season 76.
Known to be an immature player, closed-minded, and ball hog, Romeo aims to involve his teammates to make it back to the semifinals.
"Tingin ko yung past Terrence Romeo naglalaro siya para manalo, pero more on didiskarte siya para sa sarili niya, never siyang dumiskarte para sa teammates niya," Romeo admits.
Now on his fourth year, Romeo wants to leave behind him an identity that has hounded him in the past and reinvent himself as a leader who makes his teammates better.
"Ngayon ang plano ko didiskarte ako para sa teammates ko, at the same time para sa sarili ko," he added.
True enough, Romeo impressed everyone after leading the Tamaraws in their opening victory against University of the East, 89-78, Saturday afternoon at the MOA Arena.
The former UAAP juniors MVP was a rebound short from getting a triple-double performance as he wound up with a game-high 23 points, nine rebounds and a career-high 12 assists in front of 17,985 fans.
"Hindi ko akalain na magagawa ko yun kasi nung first half medyo nag-struggle ako," Romeo said.
Romeo admits that just being hungry isn't enough to win a championship.
"Kasi lagi namin sinasabi gutom kami, last, last year puro gutom kami, pero pag lalo kaming gigil pumunta every game, mas nahihirapan kami," he said.
"Kailangan nalang namin baguhin ang mind set na every game is important, kailangan namin makapasok sa Final Four," Romeo added.
Now, a much determined, focused and mature Romeo vows to give it all, in a different way.
"Maglalaro ako ng best ko every game. Hindi ko na iisipin na para sa sarili ko, maglalaro ako para sa team ko," Romeo promised to the FEU supporters.